By Brittany Anderson
September 11, 2001 is a date that most Americans will never forget — and one local barbershop has made it their mission to honor the lives lost and sacrifices made by first responders on this day in the way they know best.
Gentlemen’s Grooming 101 held their annual 9/11 Commemorative Free Haircut event on Sept. 7. Owners Chris Ortiz and Tony Arredondo, alongside the rest of their team, have put on the event for several years to show appreciation for first responders by providing them with a simple but necessary service, completely for free.
Robert Vasquez, deputy with Hays County Pct. 2 Constable Michael Torres, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers alongside other staff to show support for their fellow first responders.
Many local firefighters, policemen and other first responders showed out to get free haircuts at the shop. Michael Torres, Hays County Pct. 2 Constable and staff also grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for fellow first responders to enjoy throughout the duration of the event.
This is not the only free haircut event Gentlemen’s Grooming organizes. Since 2017 — excluding 2020 and 2021 due to COVID — the shop has put on Cutz4Kidz, a free haircut event for K-12 students held before the start of the new school year in tandem with a school supply drive with local organizations. This year, they provided 150 free haircuts for children.
Taking care of the community in this way seems to come second nature to Ortiz and Arredondo, as their shop continues to prove to be a fixture for students, first responders and anyone and everyone in between.
Gentlemen’s Grooming is located at 225 S Main St in Kyle. Stay tuned for future events — there might just be a free haircut waiting for you.
